Impact Assessment on Existing Government Payout Recipients Facing Cost of Living Challenges and Support Plans

47 Mr Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari asked the Minister for Manpower amidst rising cost of living and inflationary pressures (a) what is the proportion of those who are already receiving payouts who are unable to sustain the current cost of living; and (b) what is the Ministry's plan to help this group.

Dr Tan See Leng: The Ministry of Manpower's initiatives focus on supporting individuals in improving their employability and employment incomes, by investing in their upskilling and training at all stages of their careers, from entry to the work force to retaining them in the workforce for as long as they are able and choose to continue working. We support lower-wage workers, who may face greater cost-of-living pressures, through the Workfare Income Supplement targeted at the bottom 20% of Singaporean workers. The Progressive Wage Model, covering about nine in 10 full-time lower-wage resident workers, also helps to uplift wages by upgrading skills and improving productivity.